Meet The Bee’s service journalists: We’re here to help you live your best life in Sacramento
It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to The Sacramento Bee’s service journalism team: Reporters Hanh Truong, Brianna Taylor, Jacqueline Pinedo and myself, Savanna Smith, the editor.
In launching this team in 2021, we created a direct line between our journalists and our readers. This service-oriented desk focuses on answering the most essential, frequently-asked questions of the day and help readers navigate California news.
We don’t want to assume we know what you want and need. We want you to tell us. And then we want to talk about it.
Whether you are a current Bee subscriber, you’ve never heard of us or anything in between, we’re here to help you live a happy, healthy and safe life in Sacramento and beyond.
To help us on this exciting journey, this is our team:
Hanh Truong
Reporter
Hanh joined the Sacramento Bee’s service journalism desk in 2021 as an engagement reporter.
Previously, she was a freelance journalist for PBS SoCal and KCET, and a contributing writer for Buzzbands.LA, covering culture, education, environment and music.
Originally from Southern California, Hanh is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, and has a degree in literary journalism.
Here’s what she wants you to know: “Journalism is one of the best ways we can connect with communities and learn about one another. And being a reporter means I get to listen to you and find ways on how you can live your best life.”
Contact Hanh: Email htruong@sacbee.com, call 916-229-8741 or find her on Twitter @hanhtruong_
Brianna Taylor
Reporter
Brianna joined the service journalism team in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism from Morgan State University, where she completed a year-long business exchange fellowship with the Wall Street Journal. She also participated in the Politico Journalism Institute.
In 2019, Brianna was an intern for the Columbia Missourian, where she reported on entertainment and arts, government, health, local and breaking news.
Food for thought from Brianna: “Journalism isn’t a dying field and The Bee has the subscribers to prove it. So every day that I get to create stories for the community that needs it the most is a day well spent.”
Contact Brianna: Email btaylor@sacbee.com, call 916-321-1019 or find her on Twitter @briannajoyt_.
Jacqueline Pinedo
Reporter
Jacqueline is joined the service journalism team in 2022 after she interned at the Los Angeles Times and completed her master’s degree at the University of Southern California.
Contact Jacqueline: Email: jpinedo@sacbee.com, call 916-321-1407, or find her on Twitter @jacqueline___p.
Savanna Smith
Editor
Savanna leads McClatchy’s California service journalism teams as editor.
A graduate of the University of Kansas, she previously worked at The Kansas City Star as a breaking news and audience editor.
Growing up across the Midwest, Savanna did stints in Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas and Missouri.
She has degrees in journalism and humanities.
A quick hello: “I always say, ‘What’s the point of journalism if we’re not reaching the people we’re trying to serve and making a positive impact on our communities?’ — and what better way to accomplish that than talking to you directly. I’m excited to meet you and get to know Sacramento!”
Contact Savanna: Email sasmith@sacbee.com, call 916-321-1290 or find her on Twitter @savsmith27.
What is ‘service journalism’ — why does it matter?
Our goal is to answer questions in a way that helps you navigate the world around you, whether that be helping you find affordable housing, understand a new law or make weekend plans.
This service journalism team will tell you not just the “what” but the “why it matters to you” about California news.
And it matters because YOU matter. We’re all making our way through this wild world together, and we want to be a resource you can rely on for help in that.
Ask us anything
Here’s how to submit your questions to our team:
Ask us your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 5:00 AM.